LGM-30 Minuteman chronology
# LGM-30 Minuteman chronology

This is a chronology of the LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, acquisition and operational.

## Program chronology

* 1956
   * Von Neumann Committee approved Ballistic Missile feasibility program
   * R&D programs and contracts authorized
* 1957
   * ICBM improvements studies started
   * Minuteman configuration studies started
* 1958
   * Minuteman R&D program authorized
* 1959
   * First R&D firing from silo - inert second and third stage
* 1960
   * First contract for operational wing facilities at Wing I
   * Missile production
* 1961
   * First all-up missile launch from pad at Eastern Test Range
   * First missile launch from silo at Eastern Test Range
* 1962
   * First missile launch from Western Test Range
   * Minuteman I operational flight turnover at Wing I
* 1963
   * First wing turnover at Wing I, Wing II turnover
   * Force Mod program approved
   * First motor static test firing to verify reliability
* 1964
   * Wing III and Wing IV turnover
   * New features approved
   * Minuteman II flight test
   * GIANT BOOST
* 1965
   * Wing V turnover
   * Vulnerability improvements
   * Minuteman fully operational at Wing II, Wing III
* 1966
   * Wing IV turnover
   * Minuteman III approval
   * Aging surveillance program initiated
   * Minuteman II operational at Wing VI
   * ERCS deployed
* 1967
   * Squadron 20 turnover
   * Force Mod at Wing IV
   * Airborne Launch Control System goes on alert
* 1968
   * Hard rock silo program started
   * First Minuteman III R&D flight
* 1969
   * Force Mod rate decrease
   * Force Mod at Wing I complete
   * Service Star testing began for RSs
* 1970 Minuteman III on display at Air Force Museum
   * First Minuteman III at Wing III (Hotel Flight/H-02)
   * Upgrade silo and CDB programs started
   * First MOM test at Wing VI
* 1971
   * Minuteman III dust program started
   * Force Mod at Wing III completed
* 1972
   * Minuteman III deployed at Wing VI
   * First dust-hardened Minuteman III deployed at Wing VI
   * Minuteman ordnance service life analysis program developed
   * Responsibility for service life testing transferred to Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC), Hill Air Force Base, Utah
* 1973
   * Upgrade silo and CDB IOC at Wing V
   * Force Mod and upgrade silo completed at Wing II
   * Last MOM at Wing III
* 1974
   * Full Force upgrade silo approved
   * MK12A and Pave Pepper programs started
   * SSAS was deployed for Minuteman II
* 1975
   * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing V
   * Upgrade silo and CDB start at Wing III
   * Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman (SELM) program started
   * Minuteman bench test program concept developed by OO-ALC
   * Minuteman III fully deployed
   * Minuteman program management responsibility transfer (PMRT)
* 1976
   * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing III
   * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
   * Long range service life analysis performed for propulsion system
   * Hybrid explicit implemented for Minuteman III
   * Minuteman II MGS vibration test program initiated
   * New calibration schedule implemented to correct MGS startup transients
   * Minuteman II Stage 3 lot 16 motor igniters replaced
* 1977
   * Minuteman III missile production terminated
   * Inertial performance data began to be collected for guidance system fault isolation
   * Began implementation of ILCS at Minuteman II wings
* 1978
   * GIP implemented at Minuteman III
   * Thrust termination port investigation began
* 1979
   * Minuteman II stage 2 motor remanufacturing program began to correct degraded liner/Minuteman III stage 3 degraded liner investigation initiated
   * USAF advisory board recommended that carbon-carbon nose tips be developed for MK12 RVs
* 1980
   * Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
   * Minuteman II accuracy/reliability investigation conducted
   * VRSA replacement design started
   * Diagnostic data package hardware delivered to provide re-entry/separation data for Minuteman II flights
* 1981
   * MGS electronics investigation completed
   * Accuracy, Reliability, Supportability Improvement Program (ARSIP) program began
* 1982
   * Minuteman III guidance upgrade program implemented
   * MK12A re-entry vehicle FOC
   * Special operational test program began - Minuteman II
   * Hardness critical items identified and procured
* 1983
   * Minuteman III MGS vibration test program initiated
   * Special operational test program complete - accuracy improvements verified
* 1984
   * Minuteman Extended Survivable Power IOC
   * GUP implemented for Minuteman III
* 1985
   * Rivet MILE (Minuteman Integrated Life Extension) program began
* 1986
   * LGM-118A Peacekeeper deployment initiated
* 1987
   * Integrated Nuclear Effects Assessment (INEA)
   * ARSIP implemented for Minuteman II
   * Piece-parts manufacturing for diminished manufacturing sources
   * Rivet MILE began Improved Minuteman Physical Security System (IMPSS) installation
* 1988
   * Minuteman III Stage 2 washout/Stage 3 replacement
   * Comprehensive reliability investigations conducted
   * Peacekeeper fully operational at Wing V
* 1989
   * Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) program initiated
   * Rocket Motor Transporter replacement
   * Code Change Verifier replacement
   * Transporter-Erector replacement
* 1990
* 1991
   * Minuteman II removed from SIOP
* 1992
   * Minuteman II deactivation initiated
   * MESP discontinued
   * Rivet MILE completes IMPSS installation
   * SRV Program initiated
   * Rivet ADD initiated
   * Missile Transporter replacement
   * Missile Transporter (PT III) replacement
* 1993
   * GRP contract awarded
* 1994
   * PRP initial contracts awarded
* 1995
   * REACT consoles begin deployment
   * Minuteman II deactivation complete
   * BRAC decision to close Wing VI by 1998
* 1996
   * REACT deployment complete
* 1998
   * Wing VI deactivation complete
   * Wing VI Minuteman IIIs moved to Wing I
   * AF awards ICBM Prime contract to TRW team for ICBM engineering
* 1999
   * First NS-50 MGS deployed
   * Congress establishes the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
* 2000
* 2001
   * PRP deployment initiated
* 2005
   * Peacekeeper deactivation complete
* 2007-08
   * Deactivation and removal of 50 Minuteman III's at Malmstrom AFB, MT.

## Test Launches

Minuteman IA/B :

| Date | System | Location | Nickname | Note |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 Feb 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A | | Serial 401 |
| 19 May 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A | | |
| 27 Jul 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A | | |
| 30 Aug 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-32B | | |
| 17 Nov 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-32B | | |
| 18 Dec 1961 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 5 Jan 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 25 Jan 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 15 Feb 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 8 Mar 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 22 Mar 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 24 Apr 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 11 May 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 May 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 8 Jun 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 29 Jun 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 12 Jul 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 9 Aug 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 Sep 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 19 Sep 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 17 Oct 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 19 Nov 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 7 Dec 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 14 Dec 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 20 Dec 1962 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 7 Jan 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 23 Jan 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 20 Feb 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 Mar 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 27 Mar 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 10 Apr 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 May 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 28 May 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 5 Jun 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 27 Jun 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 1 Jul 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 17 Jul 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 25 Jul 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 5 Aug 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 27 Aug 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 7 Nov 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 13 Nov 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 Dec 1963 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 16 Jan 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 28 Jan 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 12 Feb 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 25 Feb 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 27 Feb 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 13 Mar 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 20 Mar 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 30 Mar 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 7 Apr 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 24 Apr 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 29 Sep 1964 | Minuteman I | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| Minuteman II ||||||
| Date | System | Location | Nickname | Note |
| 24 Sep 1964 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 29 Sep 1964 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 29 Oct 1964 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 15 Dec 1964 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 18 Dec 1964 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 28 Jan 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 7 May 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 25 May 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 3 Aug 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 23 Aug 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 24 Sep 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 1 Oct 1965 | Minuteman II | Cape Canaveral AFS, | | |
| 13 Dec 1966 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | | First Minuteman ERCS test |
| 2 Feb 1967 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | | Second Minuteman ERCS test |
| 4 Aug 1970 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 1, GLORY TRIP 16L | |
| 22 Oct 1971 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 2, GLORY TRIP 40L | |
| 22 Mar 1972 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 3, GLORY TRIP 200L | |
| 26 Jul 1973 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 4 | |
| 12 Mar 1974 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 5 | |
| 22 Oct 1974 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 6 | |
| 5 Sep 1975 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 7 | |
| 26 Oct 1976 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 | GIANT MOON 8 | |

ALCS-assisted ICBM Launches :

| Date | Designation | System | Location | Note |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 Mar 1967 | BUSY LOBBY | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 5 | First ALCS-assisted launch |
| 17 Apr 1967 | BUSY MISSILE | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 08 | |
| 28 Apr 1967 | BUSY MUMMY | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 02 | |
| 11 May 1967 | BUSY FELLOW | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 21 | |
| 25 Jan 1968 | OLY TRIALS 7 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 22 | |
| 12 Mar 1969 | GIANT FIST 3 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 04 | |
| 18 Apr 1969 | SST M-3 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 25 | |
| 18 Jun 1969 | GLORY TRIP 37B | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 23 Jul 1969 | GLORY TRIP 41B | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 26 Aug 1969 | GLORY TRIP 15F | Minuteman II | Vandenberg AFB, LF 22 | |
| 13 Oct 1969 | GLORY TRIP 22F | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 24 | |
| 21 Oct 1969 | GLORY TRIP 45B | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 5 Dec 1969 | GLORY TRIP 50B | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 23 Mar 1970 | GLORY TRIP 63B | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 21 May 1970 | GLORY TRIP 55F | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 25 | |
| 8 Jun 1970 | GLORY TRIP 72B | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 07 | |
| 9 Jul 1970 | GLORY TRIP 66F | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 24 | |
| 3 Aug 1970 | GLORY TRIP 61F | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 25 | |
| 4 Aug 1970 | GLORY TRIP 16L | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 05 | |
| 26 Aug 1970 | GLORY TRIP 43M | Minuteman | Vandenberg AFB, LF 05 | |
